Effect of acute intervention with flavonoid-rich juice on the plasma antioxidant capacity

Epidemiological data provide evidence that consumption of a diet rich in fruit and vegetables is associated with a reduction in the incidence of CVD. One possible mechanism for the protective effect of fruits and vegetables is the antioxidant activity of several compounds, including vitamins, minerals, fibre and other phytochemicals. Flavonoids are a group of phenolic compounds with strong antioxidant activity that are present in fruits, vegetables and other plant foods and play a role in the reduction of the incidence of chronic diseases such as CVD. However, very little is known about the amount of flavonoids absorbed from the diet and the reliability of plasma biomarkers. The present study set out to investigate the pharmacokinetics of flavonoid uptake and the beneficial effect of an acute intervention with flavonoid-rich juices on markers of oxidative stress and cardiovascular risk factors.